When you need to purchase ammo for your next hunting expedition, keep in mind what you’re hunting when choosing rounds. It can depend on the hunting environment and conditions, whether the animal you plan to hunt is a deer or much smaller birds, and their escape patterns from danger. Set the right tone for your hunting trips with high-quality ammunition that performs, so your only worry is your accuracy.

Hunting With a Rifle

With a rifle, you’ll be hunting game from longer distances than one would with a shotgun or handgun, so each round is streamlined and thinner to travel further and intended to cleanly penetrate the intended target. The exact rifle ammunition you buy will depend upon the caliber of your gun, but the most common rifle ammo for hunting are hollow-point rounds, similar to these Hornady .223 bullets.

Hollow-point rounds will humanely put down your target without going through and potentially hitting anything beyond. Select a caliber that you can handle, while at the same time being sufficiently high enough to hit and stop game you’re hunting.

Another popular hunter’s choice is Federal; their line of ammo is suitable for both hunting and range practice. Federal rounds, especially .30-06 rounds, are renowned for having the power to stop game like deer from over 300 yards.

For those wishing to practice before going out to hunt, we recommend using full metal jacket rounds. FMJ are best suited for target practice instead of hunting live game.

Hunting With a Shotgun

Shotgun ammunition is available either in shot or slug form, with the one you use depending on the game. Shot pellets increase the chance you’ll hit your relatively close target, but reduces the effective firing distance between you and any game. Shot is primarily used for skeet shooting and game fowl. We carry several high-performance shotshells from brand names such as Hornady, Winchester, and Kent.

Handguns are ideal for closer contact situations, usually with bigger game like deer or wild hogs, due to the increased caliber needed. Hunting with a handgun is about quietly getting much closer to your target and firing with accuracy to hit your quarry and put it down.

Some hunters use handguns to increase challenge of hunting, since handguns lack long-range accuracy. HSM is a top brand that is known to not misfire or misfeed. Also, HSM doesn’t foul up the chamber, even with multiple reloads, leaving your gun fairly clean.

When it comes to handgun ammunition, look for accuracy and for one that packs a punch. Just remember that very few semi-automatic handguns are well-suited for hunting, typically lacking both the power necessary and proper sightline. Specially designed hunting handguns are available that feature elongated barrels.

Some of the more powerful semi-automatic pistols have been used for hunting medium to large game, particularly 10mm Auto, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .50 AE.

If you are keen to continue practicing before your big hunting trip, CCI works well for practice or recreational shooting. This ammo offers consistent performance at a competitive price, along with reloadable, newly manufactured brass cases, non-corrosive primers, and full metal jacket rounds.

Keep Your Ammo Safe

Once you’re stocked up on ammo, you need a place to keep it all safe and out of the elements until you’re ready to use it. Buy an ammo box and ensure that each round is kept in perfect condition during transport and storage. We offer boxes that can hold a variety of ammo together, or a bunch of the same size rounds.

Buy Premier Ammo Now

Sportsman’s Warehouse only sells premier, brand name ammunition that will perform flawlessly time after time. We offer shipping all over the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska. Stock up on the ammo you need for your rifle, shotgun, or handgun and never run low right before a big trip. Call 800-286-3076 or email us if you have any questions about our products.